A trim that follows the body
Contour Trim
A shaped trim that follows your dog's own lines, priced by weight and coat.
Chapter 01
When a full haircut is more than the coat needs
A contour trim suits the dog whose coat is in decent shape but has lost its outline. The body has gone a little woolly, the legs have thickened, the face has grown over, and you want the dog to look like itself again without starting over from a short clip. It is also the groom people reach for when they like the length they have and only want it sculpted: even over the back and sides, clean through the legs and feet, a tidy head.
Long, silky coats like a Shih Tzu's and curly coats like a Poodle's take well to a shaped trim, because the line of the cut is the first thing you see. A dog whose hair is just starting to hide the eyes, and whose legs have lost their shape, is usually a contour trim and not a reset.
If you are picturing a lamb cut, with a closer body and rounder legs, say so at drop off. Describe the length you want, and a photo on your phone helps the groomer see what you mean. The details are settled at the front desk in Raleigh before the dog goes back.
Black and white dog in a plaid bandana, freshly trimmed on the grooming table, Louisburg Road, Raleigh
How the trim is done
Like every groom at the salon, it begins with a bath and a brush out. A contour trim is shaped on a clean, fully brushed coat, because hair that is still tangled cuts unevenly and the line shows up later, once the coat dries and settles at home.
Then the groomer works the outline: the back and sides blended to one length, the legs and feet shaped, the head and face tidied so the eyes are clear. On the team page, Kayleigh's bio lists contour trims and lamb cuts, and her favourite breeds are Shih Tzus, Poodles and Boxers. Hannah's bio names breed-standard cuts and skin and coat care. Ask at booking who is best placed for your dog.
Allow 2 to 4 hours. Matting follows the same rule as every groom here: Humanity before Vanity, any dematting can incur a fee, and it is discussed at drop off. A nervous dog is part of that conversation too. Rabies vaccination is required, and you can email the record ahead of time or bring it in.
Chapter 03
Contour Trim prices by weight, and how often to come back
Contour Trim pricing is by your dog's weight, and each figure is a starting at price. Up to 15 lbs starts at $77, 16 to 25 lbs at $82, 26 to 35 lbs at $90, 36 to 45 lbs at $100, 46 to 55 lbs at $120, 56 to 70 lbs at $135, 71 to 90 lbs at $145, and 91 lbs and up at $160.
The estimate depends on coat type, length and condition. A coat with tangles to work through, or one that is much longer than the shape you want, can come in above the starting figure. For a straight read on your dog, call the front desk at (984) 326-2790 with the breed and weight.
Many owners book every few weeks, because a shaped trim only looks shaped while the lines are crisp. As the coat grows, the outline softens first at the face and feet. If the coat has grown well beyond a trim, a Full Haircut resets it, and The In Between keeps a good shape clean between visits.
“The staff was very friendly, the atmosphere was clean, and the lobby was super cute.” Bria Weaver, 5-star Google review.